NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

LEAD STORY: 501(h) a path into politics

IRS’s little-used tax form clears way for nonprofits’ advocacy

Political advocacy by nonprofits has taken on a new urgency since Donald Trump took office. For nonprofits, it’s a natural impulse to want to help create progressive change.

To what extent lobbying on specific legislation is allowed under current laws was the subject of the “Are You Ready for Elections and Advocacy in 2018?” workshop at the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors meeting in New Orleans in October.MORE

Crowdfunding — fiscal sponsorship’s roll in the boom

A fiscally sponsored community group went looking for $750 to paint a mural in downtown Memphis. Across the country, in Berkeley, a fiscally sponsored publishing house sought $150,000 to help support its operations while it moved toward becoming tax exempt. Both met their goals — even exceeded them — via crowdfunding. MORE

Community Partners L.A. starts a trend: regional meetings

It began in California has made its way across the country as fiscal sponsors have taken to organizing regional networking events to share information, ideas, strategies and common concerns.MORE

Fiscal sponsors: create or update your agency profile

Fiscalsponsordirectory.org helps connect community projects with fiscal sponsors. San Francisco Study Center created and maintains this directory based on self-reported information from the fiscal sponsors listed. Create your listing and help projects and other nonprofits find you fast.

Search fiscal sponsors by stateThe Directory features more than 250 sponsors in 36 states.

FOR SPONSORS AND PROJECTS

An “essential” resource

Attorney Gregory L. Colvin’s Fiscal Sponsorship: 6 Ways to Do It Right describes the six sponsorship models approved and accepted by the IRS and how they work. First published in 1993 and revised several times, it remains, says Kirke Wilson, former president of the Rosenberg Foundation, “an essential part of the library of every grantmaker and grantseeker considering some form of fiscal sponsorship.”BUY NOW

Nonprofit law leaders

Adler & Colvin is deeply committed to serving the legal needs of the nonprofit sector. We bring experience and passion to our representation of tax-exempt organizations and individual philanthropists in the areas of fiscal sponsorship, charitable gift planning, grantmaking and social investing, nonprofit governance and ethics, revenue-generating activities, social enterprise, tax treatment of lobbying and political activities.

Study Center sponsored its first fiscal project in 1975. We’ve been doing it right ever since. Savvy staff provide a spectrum of community services, serving as a sounding board for projects needing help getting started and a resource for those needing admin support. Our primary focus, financial management, uses a state-of-the-art system to keep you up to date and your project budget on track. Our mission is to help you succeed. Contact Executive Director Geoff Link for more information.